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Mercnbeth -> RE: Imperialism (4/17/2007 11:52:13 AM)
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I did a quick review of some of the British Charter companies that were instrumental in forming the Empire. Firm,
THANKS - I didn't want to do that research and other than the East India Company, the rest of the brain cells in charge of storing that knowledge already left the building.
Historically, though I think the most effective charters given by the British crown were the Pirate "Licenses".
History does not rationalize the present. Current imperialism is limited to international corporations. The are currently identified with the USA, however in the past twenty years, due to tax laws and other regulatory issues Trillions in assets have left our shores. We have the reputation, but the USA is a facade hiding the reality of who really owns and who represents modern day imperialism. Unlike the USA or any country they have no army, don't respond to pressure for social programs, and don't have elected leaders. In other words, they derive all the "conquering" effects of imperialism but don't have to allocate any of their resources to support infrastructure, social services, or security. Nice huh? Imagine the USA's GNP with no cash flow going to welfare, military spending, or social services.
Soon wealthy individuals will follow. Very soon should more be asked of them in tax dollars. Unlike 25 years ago, the USA offers no special reason to remain a resident when places like the Grand Caymans, Bahrain, Costa Rica or even some South Sea Islands welcome the wealthy with open arms. Modern day technology doesn't require USA residency. It was just announced today that over 1 Million people in the USA have over assets in excess of $5 Million. Meanwhile, the number of those living under the "poverty-line" of income is a growth industry and the middle class is shrinking into nonexistence. These are pragmatic facts.
The downfall started when "USA First" stopped being the priority of the elected politicians. When money from PAC's replaced the money from ordinary citizens so did the shift of influence change. Now citizens have no influence and the corporations represented by PAC's filled the vacuum.
Both these quotes come from the same source.
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Then came the flat-worlders, led by misguided true believers and promoted by multinational corporations. Do away with those tariffs, they said, because they "restrain trade." Let everything in, and tax nothing. The result has been an explosion of cheap goods coming into our nation, and the loss of millions of good manufacturing jobs and thousands of manufacturing companies. Entire industry sectors have been wiped out.
Here is a short list of imperialism at work and thriving today:
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Today, foreigners awash with our consumer dollars are on a two-decades-long buying spree. The UK's BP bought Amoco for $48 billion - now Amoco's profits go to England. Deutsche Telekom bought Voice-Stream Wireless, so their profits go to Germany, which is where most of the profits from Random House, Allied Signal, Chrysler, Doubleday, Cyprus Amax's US Coal Mining Operations, GTE/ Sylvania, and Westinghouse's Power Generation profits go as well. Ralston Purina's profits go to Switzerland, along with Gerber's; TransAmerica's profits go to The Netherlands, while John Hancock Insurance's profits go to Canada. Even American Bankers Insurance Group is owned now by Fortis AG in Belgium.
Foreign companies are buying up our water systems, our power generating systems, our mines, and our few remaining factories. All because "flat world" so-called "free trade" policies have turned us from a nation of wealthy producers into a nation of indebted consumers, leaving the world awash in dollars that are easily used to buy off big chunks of America. Source: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3861/is_200603/ai_n17185983
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